Oscar Piastri delivered a masterclass performance at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clinching victory in a dramatic race that saw Perez and Sainz crash.
The event unfolded on the iconic streets of Baku, where Piastri’s relentless pursuit of excellence culminated in a thrilling finish that saw him narrowly edge out Charles Leclerc, who had started from pole position.
This victory not only marked Piastri’s second career win but also propelled McLaren to the top of the Constructors’ Championship, a significant achievement in their ongoing resurgence in Formula 1.
The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix race held on the challenging streets of Baku was characterized by intense battles, strategic maneuvers, and a dramatic finish that saw two key contenders collide, reshaping the podium standings in the process.
From the outset, the race unfolded with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starting from pole position, a familiar sight as he secured the top spot for the fourth consecutive year at this circuit while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri lined up beside him in second place eager to capitalize on any opportunity.
As the lights went out, Leclerc maintained his lead while Piastri held firm in second. The Red Bull duo of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen also made strong starts, moving into third and fifth positions, respectively.
In the early laps, Leclerc showed remarkable pace quickly establishing a two-second gap over Piastri. However, the race dynamics began to shift as the teams executed their pit strategies.
Piastri and Leclerc opted for different tire strategies, with the McLaren driver staying out longer before making his pit stop on lap 16. The decision proved pivotal, as it allowed Piastri to emerge just ahead of Perez, who had pitted a lap earlier.
The race truly came alive on lap 20 when Piastri executed a daring move to overtake Leclerc at Turn 1, taking the lead for the first time. This moment marked the beginning of a close battle between the two drivers, as Piastri fended off repeated challenges from Leclerc over the next 31 laps.
The Australian displayed exceptional racecraft, defending his position with skill and composure, even as Leclerc’s Ferrari applied relentless pressure. However, as the race progressed tire wear began to affect Leclerc’s performance.
By lap 47, the Monegasque driver’s tires had significantly degraded, allowing Piastri to extend his lead. Meanwhile, Perez and Sainz were embroiled in a battle for the final podium position.
However, the drama unfolded dramatically on the penultimate lap when Perez attempted to overtake Leclerc for second place. In a high-stakes maneuver, Sainz joined the fray, leading to a catastrophic collision between the two contenders which sent both cars crashing into the wall, effectively ending their races and reshaping the podium positions.
With the crash happening just before the finish, the race concluded under a Virtual Safety Car allowing Piastri to cruise to victory with a comfortable lead.
Leclerc crossed the line in second place, a commendable effort despite the setback, while George Russell capitalized on the chaos to secure third for Mercedes.
Lando Norris, who had started the race in 15th position, executed a brilliant strategy to finish fourth, further closing the gap in the championship standings against Max Verstappen, who finished fifth.
Fernando Alonso was sixth for Aston Martin, while Alexander Albon took seventh for Williams.
Albon’s rookie teammate Franco Colapinto took eighth in only his second race in F1, becoming the first Argentinian driver to score points since Carlos Reutemann in 1982. The driver he replaced at Williams last month, American Logan Sargeant, hadn’t scored a point this season.
Lewis Hamilton was ninth after starting the race from the pit lane due to changing car parts, and 19-year-old Oliver Bearman — also in his second career F1 race — was 10th as a stand-in at Haas for the suspended Kevin Magnussen, beating his far more experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg.
